Farmers protest before CRA meet

Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sangha activists on Monday staged a dharna in Mysore, demanding that the state present 'ground realities' on water availability at the Cauvery Regulatory Authority meeting at Delhi on September 19.

Farmers from Mysore, Chamarajanagar, Mandya and Hassan districts, under the Cauvery catchment area, participated in the dharna. The farmers, led by KRRS President K S Puttannaiah, demanded the state panel ask CRA to evolve a distress water sharing formula between Tanil Nadu and Karnataka, based on ground realities.

The agitators resolved to lay siege to all reservoirs if the State panel failed to impress upon the Prime Minister to refrain from ordering release of Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu. They also resolved to stage a Jail Bharo, Rasta Roko, Rail Roko agitations in the event of elected representatives failing to present a strong case in favour of Karnataka. Cauvery Hitarakshana Samithi members also staged a dharna in Mandya, in which former Union minister Ambareesh took part.